An estimated 50,000 visitors to the store since launch.

Citing sources, Ireland’s Sunday Business Post reports the service saw “a record 50,000 hits” over the weekend - its first weekend since its stealthy launch last week.

The report also estimates that 2,000 iPods were sold in Ireland over Christmas, speculating that 30,000 of these have sold in the Republic since 2000.

Efforts to localize the music available through the service have also begun: “You'll see an Irish flavour to the music iTunes will feature over the coming months,” Chris Bell, director of product marketing for iTunes, told The Sunday Business Post.